Re: Clearing snow from Fire Hydrants

>Date: Tue, 25 Jan 1994 00:14:50 EST
>From: "Dr. Steven C. Myers" <R1SCM@AKRONVM.BITNET>
>
>Ok, so scouts aren't called out during disasters, but maybe they can
>help prevent at least one kind. I saw a picture in the paper and a
>plea by the local fire department for residents to shovel out the
>fire hydrant so the trucks can find them. I am going to propose to
>my troop that each scout adopt at least one hydrant and every snow
>and every time the snow plow comes by, they should make sure that it
>is uncovered. -- Thus, no disaster from fire department being delayed
>while they look for the hydrant and clear a way to get water.
>
When I was growing up in Buffalo, New York, this was a favorite
activity of many Scout troops. However, due to some liability
issues, the fire department decided that they did not want the
Scouts to do this anymore. I think the issue was something like
this:
- Scouts start to clear the fire hydrants,
- The fire department sees this and said great we don't need
to go out and check these hydrants anymore since the Scouts
are clearing them,
- fire occurs, and the fire department finds that this once
cleared hydrant was not shoveled out for the last 3 snows
and they have to take the time to clear the hydrant.
- since clearing the hydrants is really the responsibility of
the fire department, they may get into some trouble.

I was a youth member at the time and do not really remember clearly
all the details, but I think the fire department basically asked
up not to clear them. Check with your local fire officials. Then,
once you start to clear them, you need to keep it up for the
entire season.

--
Kevin Peterson              | peterson@dg-rtp.dg.com
ASM, Troop 346, Raleigh, NC | KevinPNC@AOL.com

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